Health care workers have left out of fear for their safety as police back away from mental health calls

Senior nurses with special powers to assess and retain mental health patients have resigned over safety concerns.

Are concerned about police backing down on mental health callsand changes in hospital procedures that will come into force on Monday.

At the same time, 90 percent of mental health workers in two new union surveys say the changes will make them and their patients less safe.

Public hospitals and clinics are changing their procedures from Monday to deal with officers who plan to spend less time in emergency departments, transport and emergency calls.

Police have said for months that they must reduce the time officers spend on non-urgent mental health calls as they stop carrying out their crime-fighting duties.

In response, about half a dozen nurses resigned from their additional roles as duly authorized officers (DAOs).

“This decision was made individually and was the personal decision of each DAO based on their concerns regarding health and safety issues that may arise from November 1,” they said.

“This was not an impulsive or reactive decision, it was made after considering available information, insight into the current risks associated with practicing mental health as a DAO, and the likely risks in the future.”

It was unclear which hospitals the nurses worked in continued their normal work.

They said they first discussed the situation with families and close contacts and then met in mid-September to discuss the situation among themselves.

DAOs have specific responsibilities under the Mental Health Act, such as providing advice on mental health services and the operation of the law, and helping to assess people.

Health New Zealand has been contacted for comment.

At the same time, 90 percent of mental health nurses in a new survey by the Nurses Organization and in a separate survey* of mental health workers by the PSA union said that withdrawing the police would make them or their patients less safe.

In the NZNO survey, 60 percent of nurses strongly agreed with the statement, “Upcoming changes may increase the risk of escalation,” and another 30 percent agreed.

Health NZ previously told RNZ that the three new SOPs introduced today include “low-risk” interactions with volunteer patients; from March, other changes would expand that scope and apply it to sometimes more agitated or aggressive people in forcible confinement.

Nurses who left their roles at DAO said: “We work in an industry where, in part, we educate our clients about health and safety, risk management and making informed decisions.

“We believe this is what is happening in this situation – as a DAO, we have made an informed decision after considering what is important to us, which is our ongoing health and safety in our work.”

Greg Davies, DAO at Wairau Hospital in Marlborough, who did not resign, said he had not yet heard of those who had done so, but was not surprised.

“I think (they will leave), yes, tip of the iceberg.”

He said in Wairau the number of mental health nurses had dropped to just seven general mental health nurses, but had risen again to a dozen or so.

However, “I think we will lose employees because of this, it puts too much pressure on them.

“I just think it’s extremely risky. I don’t think anyone really appreciates how risky it is.”

Staff that had already on full shift would have to handle after-hours calls and have less police protection when transporting patients from Blenheim – over “two mountain ranges” – to be admitted to Nelson Hospital, Davies said.

He and colleagues were able to familiarize themselves with the new operating procedures just a few days ago.

“There was no consultation with staff…it appears to have been rushed.”

As recently as Friday, Health NZ informed staff of “urgent” changes to three new operating procedures.

PSA said it had asked Health NZ to withhold publication but was refused.

Only 13 percent of survey respondents expressed confidence that their workplace was able to manage the risks resulting from change.

“Mental health professionals are saying loud and clear that implementing this change is profoundly dangerous and that the risk of serious harm to themselves, those in their care and society is very high,” said Ashok Chankar, PSA health manager.

The new standard operating procedures emphasize that staff must still call the police if there is violence, an immediate threat to life or safety or if a crime has taken place.

“We will be monitoring the first phase of changes closely to ensure our plans for subsequent phases are appropriate,” RNZ Health NZ said in a statement on Wednesday.

When asked by RNZ to confirm how many DAOs had resigned since August, Health NZ did not respond.

Police said in a statement that the essence of the changes was to ensure people “receive the care they deserve, from the right professionals, when they need it.”

“We are committed to working together to provide the best service to people living with mental health conditions, which will require some changes and re-evaluation of processes over time to achieve the best outcomes for all people involved.”

*The PSA survey ran from October 8 to 22 and was sent to 6,151 members and received 438 responses. The margin of error was 5 percent.